View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore expects to take another step toward returning to full-time action with the Indians when he does some running drills around the bases on Sunday.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Grady Sizemore could play in his first game since last season on March 20.

He'll take another step toward that on Sunday when he runs the bases for the first time.

"Sometime between March 20 and March 30, Grady could be in games, if he continues to keep progressing," said manager Manny Acta.

If that's the case, it definitely rules out Sizemore for the April 1 season opener against Chicago at Progressive Field. The Indians break camp on March 29 and play Class AAA Columbus in Columbus before moving on to Cleveland.

Sizemore, no matter when he starts playing, won't have nearly enough at-bats to be ready for the regular season. Still, it's progress as he continues his recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee.

"We'll try to control it as much as possible," said Acta, referring to what will happen when Sizemore plays. "If it alters the game too much, we might do it on the minor-league side."

When Sizemore is ready to join the Indians, Acta says he has no plans to stop him from stealing bases. He said he may even re-insert him in the leadoff spot even if Sizemore has lost speed due to the surgery.

"Stolen bases don't define a leadoff hitter," said Acta. "It's scoring runs and on-base percentage that factor into it more than stealing bases. It doesn't do me any good if a guy steals 80 and hits .220.

"Wade Boggs, for a long time, hit in the first two spots in the lineup over there in Boston because of his on-base percentage. You win the game by scoring runs. Take a look at the stats. The team that steals the most bases doesn't always win."

Indians chatter

Clubhouse confidential: The Indians, behind the pitching of Fausto Carmona, Josh Tomlin, Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp, beat the Angels, 2-1, Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark. Carlos Carrasco makes his third Cactus League start Sunday when the Indians play San Diego in Peoria, Ariz. Chris Perez and David Huff will follow him.

Attendance: 5,400.

Record: Angels 7-9, Indians 5-8-2.

Starting pitching: Fausto Carmona became the first starter to go four innings, striking out five and allowing one hit and no runs. He finished his day throwing 25 pitches in the bullpen. Josh Tomlin followed Carmona with three scoreless innings as he pitched around four hits and a walk. He went to the pen and threw 15 more pitches.

Bullpen: Rafael Perez made his first Cactus League appearance with a scoreless eighth, but needed help from second baseman Adam Everett, who started a double play on a bad-hop ground that nearly hit him in the nose. Tony Sipp earned the save, but gave up a two-out homer to Chris Pettit.

Heating up: After homering Friday, Asdrubal Cabrera singled and doubled in his first two at-bats Saturday. He drove in Michael Brantley in the first and doubled and scored on Shin-Soo Choo’s double in the fourth.

Good glove: In the fifth, Matt LaPorta saved at least one run with a diving stop and flip to first for the third out with the bases loaded.

Finally: Crowd of 5,400 was the biggest this spring to see the Tribe in Goodyear. In the sixth, third baseman Luis Valbuena cut down Mark Trumbo as he tried to go from first to second on a fly ball to right field. Jeff Mathis went from second to third on the play, but Valbuena caught Trumbo at second.

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Sizemore is only the second 30-30 man (30 homers, 30 steals) in Indians history. Acta says he'll have the green light when he returns.

"Then it's up to him, and how good he feels, when it comes to stealing bases," said Acta. "The only thing I can control with Grady is his volume and his playing time.

"When it comes to the speed and stolen bases, it's all fine if we can get the whole package. But I don't think you'll hear me complain if he drops 25 or 30 bombs like he used to and he doesn't steal 40."

Thumbs up: In Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Angels, Matt LaPorta made three nice plays in the field. He doubled in three at-bats, but is hitting only .156.

"I'm very high on his defense," said Acta. "I never had a complaint about his defense last year."

Now if he can just start hitting.

Compliment: Acta called second baseman Jason Kipnis a dirt bag. He meant it in the best way possible.

"He fits the description of the type of player we're trying to get on this ballclub," said Acta. "He's a blue collar, dirt bag, run-through-a-wall, relentless type of guy. We're trying to get a bunch of guys like that and put them together to create a team that makes our fans proud of them."

Kipnis was the Indians' No.2 pick in 2009. He played center field at Arizona State, but the Indians moved him to second base last year and the move has gone well.

Let's talk: Executive Director Michael Weiner and other members of the players association met with Indians players before Saturday's game. The current contract expires on Dec. 11.

The other side: Former Tribe catcher Chris Gimenez is trying to make Seattle's club as a super utility man.

"I've got about 25 gloves in my equipment bag," joked Gimenez before the Mariners and Indians played Friday. "The thing weighs about 400 pounds."

Gimenez said manager Eric Wedge has used him in left and right field, first and third base and behind the plate. When Wedge managed the Indians, he pushed Gimenez into the utility role.

Scratched:Jason Donald was scratched from the lineup because of pain in his left hand. He was hit by a pitch there a week ago.

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